Israel and US launch strikes on Iran, pushing Middle East into new conflict

By Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell, Hadeel Al Sayegh and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV/DUBAI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, targeting its leadership and plunging the Middle East into a new conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the United States and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.

The strikes put nearby oil-producing Gulf Arab countries on edge as fears of escalation in the region grew, and Tehran responded by launching missiles towards Israel. 

The first wave of strikes in what the Pentagon named "OPERATION EPIC FURY" mainly targeted Iranian officials, a source familiar with the matter said. 

An Israeli official said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted but the result of the strikes was not clear. A source with knowledge of the matter had earlier told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

An Iranian source close to the establishment said several senior commanders in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and political officials had been killed. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.

HOPES DIM FOR DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO NUCLEAR DISPUTE

The renewed confrontation between Iran and its long-time foes dimmed hopes of a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West. The latest indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran this week failed to produce a breakthrough.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a first wave of retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks had been launched against Israel, and that all U.S. bases and interests in the region were within Iran's reach, an Iranian official told Reuters.

Iran's retaliation would continue until "the enemy is decisively defeated," the Revolutionary Guards said.

Loud booms sounded in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, a major oil producer and close U.S. ally. Blasts were also heard in the country's business capital Dubai.

One witness in Abu Dhabi heard five booms in rapid succession that caused windows to vibrate. Other witnesses in the Al Dhafra and Bateen areas heard loud booms as well.

Bahrain said the service center of the U.S. Fifth Fleet had been subjected to a missile attack. Video footage from witnesses in Bahrain showed a thick grey plume of smoke rising from near the small island state's coastline as sirens wailed. 

Fellow Gulf Arab state Qatar said it had downed all missiles targeting the country and that it had a right to respond.

Explosions were heard near Iran's Kharg Island. Iran exports 90 percent of its crude oil via Kharg, for shipping through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.

Global airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East.

TRUMP CITES 1979 HOSTAGE CRISIS

In a video message published on social media, Trump cited Washington's decades-old dispute with Iran, including the seizure of the 1979 U.S. embassy in Tehran, when students held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, as well as a range of other attacks the U.S. has blamed on Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution brought the clerics to power.

He urged Iranians to stay sheltered because "bombs will be dropping everywhere". But he also added: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

The scope of the U.S. air and sea operations was not immediately clear. The campaign is expected to last for multiple days, a U.S. official said.

“We are being killed by the regime and by Israel. We are the victims of this regime’s hostile policies,” said Maryam, 54, a housewife in Tehran, as she headed to northern Iran with her family.    Witnesses said people were rushing to banks to withdraw cash. Long queues formed at gas stations across cities. Many also worried about a potential internet blackout that would cut off communication with their families abroad.

Trump had built up a vast U.S. military presence in the region to try to force Tehran to make concessions in the nuclear talks. He said the "massive" operation was intended to ensure Tehran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Iran's ballistic missile programme has been a significant sticking point in negotiations. Trump said Iran was developing long-range missiles that threaten the U.S. 

"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said.

ISRAEL URGES IRANIANS TO REMOVE 'YOKE OF TYRANNY'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint U.S.-Israeli attack "will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands" and " remove the yoke of tyranny".

The attack follows a 12-day air war last June between Israel and Iran and repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the attack - launched against Muslim-majority Iran during Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of fasting observed from dawn to sunset - was pre-emptive and intended to remove threats to Israel.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago.

The Israeli military announced the closure of schools and workplaces, with exceptions for essential sectors, and a ban on public airspace. Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights.

The U.S. and Iran renewed negotiations in February to try to resolve the nuclear dispute.

Iran, which denies seeking atomic bombs, said it was prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions but ruled out linking the issue to its missiles.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Barbara Lewis, Sam Holmes and Timothy Heritage)